T-Minus eight hours, ten minutes until kickoff...
Things to Watch:
1. FSU Defense - Last season, Oklahoma's hurry-up offense never allowed a frustrated Seminole defense to get set. This season, FSU's defense has gotten bigger and better. "Hopefully our team has grown and we've gotten better," Fisher said. "We know our players better, they know us better. They know our scheme better.
2. Today's game will show whether the well-developed ‘Nole defense has developed the efficiency and skill to stop Oklahoma's hurry-up offense.
3. FSU Running Game - So far this season, ‘Noles rushing has been underwhelming. Oklahoma's only game thus far saw their Dominique Whaley with 18 carries and an average of 7.3 yards per carry. Florida State hasn't been running the ball nearly as much. FSU's two games saw lead rusher James Wilder Jr. with 10 carries and an average of 7.6 yards per carry.
However, Head Coach Fisher has adjusted the offensive line to give the running game its legs. "It's a work in progress," Fisher said. "We'll get better."
Things to Remember:
1. In his 13 years as head coach, Oklahoma's Head Coach Stoops has never beaten a ranked, non conference opponent on the road. That sort of established pattern excludes coincidence. This is a trend.
2. This is Oklahoma's first road game against a top five non-conference opponent since 1998 when their No. 3 team lost 23-7 to No. 5 Southern California in 1988.
3. Home field advantage will be significant to this game. FSU won all but one of its home games last season (they lost to North Carolina 35-37) and has won 10 of its 11 previous home games at Doak Campbell Stadium. But this game isn't just any game. Campus has been alive with anticipation of this game. On the street, in the library, in the halls, the gym, cafeteria...everyone has talking about this game. During class time, even Professors have been talking about it instead of focusing on the lecture. FSU will enjoy an absolutely enormous home field advantage.